Locavore Farm Celebrates 10 Years of Regenerative Farming and Immersive Culinary Experiences (Grant Park, IL) – What began as a dream and a dinner table in a farm field has grown into a powerful force for good in Midwest agritourism. This year, Locavore Farm celebrates its 10th anniversary season by launching its most ambitious culinary series yet: a curated lineup of celebrity chef dinners featuring nationally recognized culinary talent from across the country. Each event promises an unforgettable farm-to-table experience grounded in community, sustainability, and purpose.
Founded in 2015 by Rachael and Chris Jones, Locavore Farm has become a nationally recognized hub for agrarian culture, located just 43 miles south of Chicago. What started as a small family project has evolved into a destination rooted in regenerative farming, community-centered hospitality, and a mission to reconnect people with the land and one another.
“We didn’t leave the suburbs to escape; we left searching for something deeper,” says founder Rachael Jones. “Our goal was to create a place where people could slow down, connect over a meal, and rediscover what truly matters.”
Since setting that first table in a field, Locavore Farm has:
-
Served more than 10,000 guests through immersive, communal dinners
-
Launched a nonprofit to educate the next generation of farmers and food lovers
-
Purchased and restored 35 acres into a fully functioning regenerative farm
-
Played a key role in passing Illinois’ agritourism legislation, enabling farms statewide to host events and diversify operations
-
Become a model for sustainable, experience-driven farming and rural revitalization
Dine on the Land–2025 Chef Series
This milestone season features the farm’s signature Chef Dinner Series, beginning Saturday, June 21 with Chef Anne Hicks. From Chopped champions and wellness-focused female chefs to Michelin Bib Gourmand honorees and culinary TV personalities, each dinner offers guests a meaningful, collaborative experience that goes far beyond a beautiful plate.
“We’ve spent ten years proving that people crave connection—not just with food, but with the land and each other,” said Jones. “It’s a deeply personal story, but it has become a shared one. Every guest who comes here is part of that.”
Unlike other farm-to-table pop-ups, Locavore’s chefs harvest alongside farmers the morning of each dinner. They cook on-site with produce pulled straight from the soil just hours before service, ensuring every dish is a living, breathing expression of the land itself.
Guests enjoy a multi-course, live-fire dinner at a stunning, 110-foot handcrafted table, sip locally crafted beverages, explore the land on guided tours with Farmer Jones, and dance beneath the stars to live music. Each gathering concludes with s’mores by the bonfire—a timeless reminder that food is more than sustenance; it’s community.
The 2025 Dine on the Land Series schedule is as follows. Guests may view the full schedule and purchase tickets [here].
-
Saturday, June 21: Chef Anne Hicks, Michigan
-
Saturday, July 12: Chef Adam Allison, Arizona
-
Saturday, July 26: Chef Aram Reed, Costa Rica & Chicago
-
Saturday, August 9: Chef Matt Meyer, Arizona
-
Saturday, August 23: Chef Jenn Beach, Chicago
-
Saturday, September 13: Chef Max Kolker, Chicago
-
Saturday, September 20: Chefs Seth Bradley & Ryan Van Voorhis, Chicago
A Decade of Pioneering Agritourism in Illinois:
When Locavore Farm opened in 2015, the concept of a working farm hosting communal dinners, live music, and culinary programming was virtually unheard of—at least within the confines of local and state law. For the Jones family, that meant not only building a regenerative farm and hospitality destination from scratch, but also navigating a regulatory system unprepared for this kind of innovation. There were no zoning codes for farm kitchens or ordinances supporting on-site dining and entertainment. Every season brought new legal hurdles and evolving compliance requirements, but the Joneses pressed on, deeply believing in the importance of rural community gathering.
Their persistence led to real change. In 2020, after years of dialogue and advocacy, Kankakee County passed one of the first agritourism ordinances in Illinois—largely modeled after Locavore Farm’s concept. That progress helped catalyze a statewide resolution, enacted in January 2022, formally recognizing agritourism as a vital part of Illinois’ rural economy.
Working in partnership with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Locavore Farm helped reshape how lawmakers viewed farmland—not just as a site for production, but as a place for connection, culture, and commerce. Today, their efforts have opened doors for farms across Illinois to host events, expand their revenue streams, and deepen their bonds with their communities.
About Locavore Farm:
Locavore Farm is a regenerative farm and cultural gathering space located in Grant Park, Illinois. Established in 2015, the farm has emerged as a national leader in sustainable hospitality, immersive agritourism, and experiential dining. With a mission to restore land and lives, Locavore offers seasonal chef dinners, educational programs, farm stays, and hands-on experiences that reconnect guests to the land, their food, and one another.
About Sumac Creek:
Sumac Creek is Locavore Farm’s on-site hospitality extension: a peaceful retreat created for guests seeking to stay, unplug, and fully embrace the richness of rural life. With curated meals, cozy cottages, and immersive experiences in nature, Sumac Creek brings soul back to the weekend getaway.
Locavore Farm Celebrates 10 Years of Regenerative Farming and Immersive Culinary Experiences
